Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Spatial Technologies Applied Research and Training or START Centre was a finalist in three different categories at the recent ASTech Awards gala with an award in the Regional Innovation – Rural category.
Dr. Andrew Dunlop, associate vice-president – research, for the polytechnic’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, says it was particularly satisfying to see START recognized.
“The award draws attention to, led by START, exciting extended reality innovation happening outside large centres like Calgary and Edmonton,” he notes. “The technology innovation and student skills development occurring within START will play an important role in diversifying southern Alberta’s economy.”
The centre was also a finalist in the Digital Innovation and Alberta-Wide Champion/Special Award categories of the Technology Alberta event, which brings together industry, academia, government and entrepreneurs to reward excellence and inspire innovation in the province.
The Regional Innovation Award specifically noted START’s role in advancing extended reality through research and collaboration. START Research Chair Tyler Heaton adds the recognition is meaningful in collaboration is core to everything the centre does.
“We want to work with businesses and organizations to help them realize the value of this technology in what they do,” Heaton says. “By collaborating and doing that applied research, we’re creating value for the business community while also understanding more about the technology and its uses across a wide spectrum of industries.”
The ASTech award acknowledges START’s position within the technology innovation community in Alberta. Heaton notes it also validates the technology within the province and shows the community is starting to understand the place of spatial technology and immersive technology and their potential impact on business and how products and solutions are created.
The world of spatial technologies is rapidly evolving and there’s a lot of different directions START’s research can take it. While the centre began with a focus on virtual reality and extended reality, they’re now looking at other opportunities like real-time 3D.
